Saland Appears To Eke Out Victory (Updated)

A Republican source keeping tabs on the Sen. Steve Saland vs. Neil Di Carlo recount in the 41st SD says the senator is 107 votes ahead with only 34 contested absentee ballots remaining to be counted. In other words, it’s mathematically impossible for Di Carlo to win.

UPDATE: It’s now 29 contested votes, I’m told, and the two sides are headed to court to get some direction as to how to proceed.

Said the source: “It’s over.”

Fran Knapp, Democratic election commissioner in Dutchess County, told Gannett much the same thing, saying:

“(I)t’s impossible for Saland to lose.”

The vote remains unofficial for the moment, but this is good news for the Senate Republicans, who were blindsided by Saland’s political near-death experience.

Di Carlo was the unofficial winner of a write-in campaign for the Conservative line (neither Saland nor Di Carlo was endorsed by the Conservative Party). If he wins that, then the vote on the right would be split, although Saland also has the Independence Party line as an insurance policy.

If the Republican and Conservative votes split, then that could provide a narrow path to victory for Democrat Terry Gipson.

Ballot counting continues today in the other contested GOP Senate primary the Sen. Roy McDonald vs. Saratoga County Clerk Kathy Marchione race in the 43rd SD. It’s not looking good for McDonald at the moment.

He has the Indy line, too, and his campaign manager told the Glens Falls Post-Star last week he will continue on in November on Row E, though that hasn’t been independently confirmed.